Information Overload Cited By Relatives

"HARLINGEN, TX — Police are calling the deaths of a Rangerville Road couple a murder-suicide.

"According to the preliminary investigation of the deaths that were discovered Monday evening, the man hanged himself after killing his wife, police said Tuesday.

"Preliminary autopsies indicate Jose Elias Colmenares, 53, died of asphyxiation by hanging and Herlinda Trujillo, 55, died of blunt trauma to the head, Sgt. John Parrish said.

"The bodies were found Monday evening after police were contacted by a family member, Sgt. Carlos Cantu said Monday.

"Colmenares may have hanged himself in a shed behind the couple’s home at 714 Rangerville Road, Parrish wrote in a press release.

"Cantu said Trujillo’s body was found near the front door.

"Police said they found no signs of a struggle or forced entry.

"Cantu said the couple were last seen alive about 24 hours before the bodies were found.

"Justice of the Peace Sallie Gonzalez, who pronounced the couple dead at about 8 p.m. Monday, described Trujillo as Colmenares’ common-law wife.

"A family member said Colmenares had become `overwhelmed` with information after he was recently treated for diabetes at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. She said the doctor had recommended that he undergo a psychological evaluation.

"The family member said the couple, who sold cars, came from Houston about four years ago."

From The Brownsville Herald...